U.S. patent number 6,750,802 [Application Number 09/780,226] was granted by the patent office on 2004-06-15 for remote controller with programmable favorite keys.
Invention is credited to Richard Olen.
United States Patent |
6,750,802 |
Olen |
June 15, 2004 |
Remote controller with programmable favorite keys
Abstract
A remote controller to control an electronic device has a
programmable favorite key which is programmed so that an operation
on the favorite key shifts the working channel on the controlled
electronic device to a favorite channel associated with the
favorite key. The favorite key transmits a sequential string of
command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command
signals, which number is determined according to a predetermined
relation on the basis of a relative index number of the favorite
channel in a plurality of indexed channels.
Inventors: |
Olen; Richard (Shoreview,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
32393882 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/780,226 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
341/176;
340/12.22; 340/689; 345/169; 348/E5.097; 348/E5.103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C
23/04 (20130101); H04N 5/50 (20130101); H04N
21/42226 (20130101); H04N 21/4383 (20130101); G08C
2201/33 (20130101); G08C 2201/50 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08C
23/00 (20060101); G08C 23/04 (20060101); H04N
5/50 (20060101); H04N 5/445 (20060101); G08C
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;341/176,173,180
;455/151.1,151.2,151.4,158.1,160.1 ;348/569,570 ;345/169
;340/825.72 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Fobis Technologies Inc., "designing gadgets for real life", pp.
1-16, www.weemote.com..
|
Primary Examiner: Horabik; Michael
Assistant Examiner: Dang; Hung
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein entering a programming mode
comprises: switching the channel of the target electronic device
from the initial channel to a predetermined base channel if the
target electronic device is already turned on and is at an initial
channel before the remote control enters the programming mode.
2. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction, wherein the step of determining the index
number of the favorite channel in the plurality of indexed channels
comprises: counting a net number of moves n from a predetermined
base channel to the favorite channel, wherein a move from one
channel to an immediate channel in the upward direction being
counted as a plus move and a move from one channel to an immediate
channel in the downward direction being counted as a minus move,
and the net number of moves n being the algebraic sum of the plus
moves and minus moves needed to move the base channel to the
favorite channel.
3. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed.
4. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key: and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, and wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the
remote control.
5. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: a moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, the method further comprising: resetting the relative
channel index number n to zero; starting the counting toward the
relative channel index number n upon entering into the programming
mode; and stopping the counting toward the relative channel index
number n up exiting the programming mode.
6. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, and wherein the remote controller has a plurality of
programmable favorite keys, the method further comprising:
selecting a programmable favorite key from the plurality of
programmable favored keys; starting counting toward the relative
channel number upon entering into programming mode; assigning the
net increase or the net decrease of the relative channel index
number n to the selected programmable favorite key; and stopping
counting toward the relative channel index number n upon exiting
the programming mode.
7. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, and wherein the remote controller has a plurality of
programmable favorite keys; the remote controller further has a
program for counting and storing relative channel index numbers i,
each number i being corresponding to one of the plurality of
programmable favorite keys, the method further comprising:
selecting a programmable favorite key from the plurality of
programmable favored keys; resetting the corresponding relative
channel index number to zero; entering into the programming mode;
and assigning the corresponding relative channel index number n to
the selected programmable favorite key.
8. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the
remote control, and wherein the plurality of indexed channels on
the target electronic device include a total number of N channels,
the step of programming the programmable favorite key comprising:
assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of i times
the command code for the plus key; or, assigning to the
programmable favorite key a repetition of N-i times the command
code for the minus key.
9. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality
of keys to control a target electronic device, the method
comprising: entering a programming mode; determining an index
number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;
programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number
of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and
exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed
channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form
an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by
another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a
downward direction; the remote control has a plus key and a minus
key; and wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the
present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while
pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to
the next channel in the downward direction; wherein determining an
index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed
channels comprises: moving the working channel of the target
electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite
channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and
counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel
index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key
is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is
pressed, wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the
remote control, wherein the plurality of indexed channels on the
target electronic device include t total number of N channels, the
step of programming the programmable favorite key comprising:
assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of i times
the command code for the plus key; or, assigning to the
programmable favorite key a repetition of N-i times the command
code for the minus key, and wherein the step of programming in the
programmable favorite key comprising: if i<N-i assigning to the
programmable favorite key a repetition of n times the command code
for the plus key on the remote control; if i>N-i assigning to
the programmable favorite key a repetition of N-i times the command
code for the minus key on the remote control; and if i=N-i
assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of n times
either the command code for the plus key or a repetition of n times
the command code for the minus key.
10. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for
causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an
electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key
to execute respective operations of the electronic device,
comprising: a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory; a
keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of
command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command
keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially
shift the working channel of the electronic device; transmissions
circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit command codes stored
in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are
transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled
electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to
perform specific command functions; and a program stored in the
memory to accomplish the following operations: a) determining an
index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed
channels; and b) assigning the information about the index number
of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, and wherein the
program comprises a counting program which, when activated, counts
the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and
outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the
channel the user last accessed.
11. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for
causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an
electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key
to execute respective operations of the electronic device,
comprising: a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory; a
keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of
command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command
keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially
shift the working channel of the electronic device; transmissions
circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit command codes stored
in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are
transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled
electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to
perform specific command functions; and a program stored in the
memory to accomplish the following operations: a) determining an
index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed
channels; and b) assigning the information about the index number
of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, wherein the
program comprises a counting program which, when activated counts
the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and
outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the
channel the user last accessed, the remote controller further
comprising a program stored in the memory for enabling the remote
controller to perform the following functions: detecting a first
predetermined input or a sequence of inputs, and upon such a
detection, entering into a programming mode, automatically
transmitting a command signal to switch the target electronic
device to a predetermined base channel, activating the counting
program; and detecting a second predetermined input or a sequence
of inputs, and upon such a detection, storing the output of the
counting program, and exiting the programmable mode.
12. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for
causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an
electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key
to execute respective operations of the electronic device,
comprising: a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory; a
keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of
command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command
keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially
shift the working channel of the electronic device; transmissions
circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit command codes stored
in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are
transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled
electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to
perform specific command functions; and a program stored in the
memory to accomplish the following operations: a) determining an
index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed
channels; and b) assigning the information about the index number
of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, wherein the
program comprises a counting program which, when activated counts
the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and
outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the
channel the user last accessed, and wherein the first and the
second predetermined inputs or sequences of inputs comprise
operations on the keyboard.
13. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for
causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an
electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key
to execute respective operations of the electronic device,
comprising: a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;
transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit;
command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding
command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuit
to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron
device to perform specific command functions; and a keyboard
coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys
and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including
at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working
channel of the electronic device; wherein: each programmable
favorite key is programmed to transmit a sequential string of
command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command
signals so that an operation on the favorite key shifts the working
channel on the controlled electronic device to a favorite channel
associated with the favorite key the remote controller further
comprising a program stored in the memory to determine an index
number of a favorite channel relative to a predetermined base
channel, wherein: the sequential string of command signals
transmitted by each programmable favorite key further comprises an
initial command signal which switches the working channel on the
controlled electronic device to the predetermined base channel, the
number of channel shifting command signals subsequently transmitted
being determined by the index number of the favorite channel
relative to the predetermined base channel.
14. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for
causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an
electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key
to execute respective operations of the electronic device,
comprising: a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;
transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit;
command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding
command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuit
to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron
device to perform specific command functions; and a keyboard
coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys
and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including
at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working
channel of the electronic device; wherein: each programmable
favorite key is programmed to transmit a sequential string of
command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command
signals so that an operation on the favorite key shifts the working
channel on the controlled electronic device to a favorite channel
associated with the favorite key the remote controller having an
operating mode and a programming mode, the remote controller
further comprising a program stored in the memory to accomplish the
following functions: in the programming mode, determining an index
number of a favorite channel the relative to a predetermined base
channel and assigning the information on the index number to a
selected favorite key to be associated with the favorite channel;
in the operating mode, determining an index number of a present
channel accessed by a user using the remote controller; and when
the favored key is pressed by user, determine a hopping distance
from the present channel to the favorite channel on the basis of
the index number of the present channel and the index number of the
favorite channel.
15. A control circuitry used in a remote controller to remotely
control an electronic device which has a plurality of operating
channels, the control circuitry comprises: a CPU and a memory,
wherein the CPU is adapted to receive input commands through a
matrix encoding portion when connected to a plurality of operating
keys including a channel shifting key, and wherein the memory
contains a counting program which counts the number of times the
channel shifting key has been operated, wherein the CPU is adapted
to receive input commands of a CHANNEL UP key 30a and a CHANNEL
DOWN and wherein the accounting program counts an operation on the
CHANNEL UP key 30a as a positive number and an operation on the
CHANNEL DOWN as a negative number and has an algorithm to determine
an index number based on the algebraic sum of the positive number
and the negative number, and wherein the counting program has an
algorithm to determine a plurality of index numbers, each index
number being determined in an associated sequence and once
determined, being stored in the memory.
Description
PREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to remote control devices for
electronic devices, and more particularly to a remote control
device which has programmable favorite keys to allow quick access
to preselected favorite channels or programs.
Remote control devices for electronic devices have come into wide
use recently. Using such remote control devices, the user can
operate the main function of the electronic device from far away. A
wide range of electronic devices can be remotely controlled. The
examples include home electronic equipment such as television sets,
videotape recorders, stereo receivers, compact disk players, and
other electronic devices used in business environment.
A remote control device controls an electronic device by
transmitting command data as command signals having predetermined
modulated carrier frequencies using infrared signals or
electromagnetic signals. Because different manufacturers and often
different electronic devices made by the same manufacturer use
different command signal structures, the original remote control
that comes with the electronic device generally cannot be used to
control a different electronic device. To solve that problem,
various types of so-called universal remote controllers have been
made to control several electronic devices using only one remote
controller. These universal remote controllers are either a
learning type or a preset type, or a combination of these two
types. A learning remote controller can learn and remember the
proper individual command signals from an original remote control
unit. A preset universal remote controller has a memory to store a
manufacturer selected collection of different signal structures.
Each signal structure corresponds to a specific electronic device
and is associated with a special code. The user can select a
desirable signal structure by entering the corresponding special
code. The combination type universal remote controllers have both
the learning and the preset feature. For example, the remote
controller may have a collection of preset signal structures stored
in its memory, but the remote controller automatically recognizes a
special code associated with a specific signal structure when the
remote controller learns a command signal from another remote
controller. The advantage oft his type of remote controller is that
they do not require manual selection or entrance of the device code
by the user.
A universal remote control therefore helps to solve a problem
caused by the variety electronic devices and lack of compatibility
among them. The users of remote controllers, however, face another
problem caused by the variety and complexity of the content and
programming available through electronic devices. For example, a
television may be capable of receiving hundreds of programming
channels through cable or satellite. Multiple channel programming
offers rich content to the end users but also makes selecting
desired programs more and more difficult, especially so when the
selection is made using a remote controller.
As an illustration, consider a television set owned by a family of
several members. The television set is capable of receiving more
than a hundred different channels, each channel having a unique
channel identifier, such as a unique channel number consisting of
one or several digits. The channels can be selected either on the
television set or on a remote controller, but more typically on the
latter. The remote controller has a set of command keys including a
group of numeric keys such as 0-9. To select a specific channel,
the user presses the corresponding channel number on the numeric
keys on the remote controller. The remote controller usually also
has channel shifting keys such as a CHANNEL UP key and a CHANNEL
DOWN key that can be used to switch channels without entering the
specific numeric code. In this setting, the difficulty of selecting
channels comes at different conflict levels.
First, some of the channels may be empty, i.e., do not carry any
program signal at the place where the family lives or in the
service to which the family has subscribed. To avoid facing empty
displays or the "snowing screens", the television set must be
scanned and indexed to skip these empty channels. Most television
sets have a scanning and indexing function built in. When indexed,
operations of the CHANNEL UP key and the CHANNEL DOWN key shift the
working channel from the present channel to the next indexed
channel but skip the non-indexed channels. These unindexed channels
can be accessed only by entering their corresponding numeric code
on the remote controller.
Second if a large number of channels are indexed, another problem
occurs. A certain member of the family may watch only a few
channels among the indexed channels. For this family member, it is
inefficient to find his or her favorite channels by going through
the entire set of the indexed channels using the CHANNEL UP key and
the CHANNEL DOWN key. To quickly access the favorite channels, the
person may have to memorize the specific numeric codes for each of
the favorite channels, a task which is not always easy given the
large number of channels available.
Third, even if the person manages to memorize the numeric codes of
the favorite channels, it is still cumbersome to enter the numeric
codes on the remote control because very often each code involves
multiple digits. In this case, not only does pressing multiple keys
one at a time itself takes longer time than pressing a single key,
but also it is not always intuitive to locate the next numeric key
on the keyboard of the remote controller.
Finally, with more and more electronic devices being used and more
and more programs and channels being made available, the remote
controllers are becoming progressively complicated and difficult to
learn and use. This may be a blessing for people who are gadget
oriented but an inconvenience or an obstacle for the less
tech-minded. In addition, certain groups of people may find an
ordinary remote controller available today simply too
overwhelmingly difficult to use, either because of their age or
disabilities. From another point of view, some people who are
capable of learning how to use a more complicated remote controller
may prefer a simplified remote controller anyway simply because of
their lifestyles.
To solve the above problems, some remote controllers use favorite
channel keys. The Weemote.TM. made by Fobis Technologies Inc., for
example, has several favorite keys. Each favorite key can be
programmed as the unique access key for a favorite channel so that
when the favored key is pressed the remote controller transmits the
unique channel identifier code to the television and switches the
channel to the associated favorite channel. To program the favorite
key on a Weemote.TM., the user must know the unique channel number
of the favorite channel and enter that number correctly during
programming. This still has several problems. First, it is not
always easy to remember channel numbers which often have two or
even three digits. Second, a viewer usually chooses a favorite
channel based on program content that he sees on the screen and
often does so with no knowledge of or pays no attention to the
actual channel number he is choosing. Third, even if the person
knows the favorite channel numbers, entering such numbers on the
remote control keyboard may still be found an undesirable task to
perform (even if it is required only during programming). Fourth,
such remote controllers must have a set of numeric keys to
facilitate the entries of channel numbers as channel identifiers,
making the remote controller bulky and complicated, a problem
further discussed below.
Conventional remote controllers usually have a complete numeric
keyboard including numeric keys 0-9 or more. These numeric keys
tend to make layout crowded and complicated. They also mandate a
larger size of the remote controller to implement the keys. In an
attempt to solve this problem, the Weemote.TM. provides a special
way of entering channel numbers. Instead of requiring a full
numeric keyboard for the 0-9 keys, the Weemote.TM. has only three
numeric keys, specifically "100", "10", and "1". To further improve
the appearance of the remote controller, the above three numeric
keys are located on the back of the remote controller under a
cover. The simplified numeric keyboard, however, comes at a price
of more complicated entering process. For example, to enter channel
189, instead of pressing the key "1" once, the key "8" once and the
key "9" once the user must press the key "100" once, the key "10"
eight times and the key "1" nine times. In view of this, it is
desirable to have a remote controller that doesn't require numeric
keys for entering channel numbers. Such remote controllers would
not only be less complicated but also have a less cluttered
appearance.
There is therefore a need to make a remote controller that is
straightforward in appearance and simple to use. There is a
parallel need to make a remote controller that has one or more
favorite keys that can be easily programmed to give quick access to
the user's favorite channels without requiring memorizing or
knowing a channel identifier. There is yet another parallel need to
make a remote controller that does not have numeric input keys in
addition to the favorite keys.
Using programmable favorite keys to quickly access a favorite
channel is not new. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,810 and 5,414,426, for
example, disclose MACRO keys that can be programmed to directly
access a favorite channel. The difference between these MACRO keys
and the programmable favorite keys according to the present
invention will be clear once the invention is described in
comparison with the prior art.
In principle, in order to program a favorite key, the favorite
channel must first be identified. The channel identifying
information or a channel identifier must then be conveyed and
assigned to a designated favorite key to program the key for the
favorite channel. In the prior art, channel identifiers used to
identify favorite channels are in a sense "absolute identifiers". A
channel number, for example, is in a sense absolute because it is
unique and fixed for the corresponding channel given the local
network programming in the case of a television set.
Correspondingly, once a channel identifier is conveyed and assigned
to a designated favorites channel, the infrared or electromagnetic
command signal generated to activate a particular channel is also
specifically programmed to have the required frequency, duration
and other aspects of the signal pattern to directly activate the
corresponding favorite channel. As long as a channel is identified
by an absolute identifier only, such absolute identifier must be
entered and assigned to the designated favorite key in order to
program the favorite key. In the existing technology, the
communication between a remote controller and a home electronic
device is mostly a one-way communication going from the remote
controller to the electronic device. Specifically, only the remote
controller transmits command signals to the electronic device, not
vice versa. In the present example, although the controlled
electronic device itself may readily have the absolute channel
identifying information of a present channel, it does not actively
convey such channel identifying information to the remote
controller. As a result, the user must first have knowledge of the
channel identifying information and then enter the information into
the remote controller. Due to the above intrinsic requirements, as
long as the channels are identified by absolute channel identifiers
only, both the user knowledge of the channel identifying
information and input means on the remote controller to enter such
information are necessary elements for remote controllers that
employ programmable favorite keys. Any further simplification to
omit these elements would require a breakthrough in conferring a
new way of identifying favorite channels.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a remote controller that has at least one
favorite key, which when programmed allows direct access to the
corresponding favorite channel without requiring the user to enter
the actual channel number of the favorite channel. In programming
the favorite key, an index number representing a relative index
position of a channel, rather than an absolute channel identifier
such as a channel number, is used to identify a corresponding
favorite channel. As a result, not only can the user access a
favorite channel quickly and directly by pressing a favorite key,
the user can easily program favorite key without having the
knowledge of absolute channel identifying information such as
channel numbers or having to enter such information on the remote
controller.
In one embodiment of the present invention, only the relative
position of a favorite channel in a set of indexed channels on the
controlled electronic device is required to program a favorite key.
The relative position of a favorite channel is defined in relation
to a predetermined base channel and is represented by an index
number and it can be easily determined.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the process is further
simplified by a program in the remote controller allowing the index
number of a favorite channel to be determined automatically when
the user scans through the set of indexed channels to locate the
favorite channel. The very act of locating a favorite channel on
the target electronic device using the remote controller generates
the necessary information to determine the index number of the
favorite channel. After determining the index number of the
favorite channel, the program assigns the information of such index
number to the corresponding favorite key.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a remote controller of an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block electrical schematic circuit diagram of the
remote controller shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for programming a favorite key and
subsequently using the favorite key.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for determining in real-time the index number
of a present channel in the normal operating mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a remote controller 20 in accordance with the present
invention. The remote-controller 20 has a outer housing 22, a
command signal transmitter 24 (such as an infrared lamp), a group
of favorite keys 26, and a set of regular command keys such as a
POWER ON/OFF 28, a CHANNEL UP 30a, CHANNEL DOWN 30b, VOLUME UP 32a,
VOLUME DOWN 32b and MUTE 34. Except for the favorite keys 26, which
will be described in detail later in this application, the basic
functions of the other keys are self explanatory according to their
names. In general, each regular command key 28, 30a, 30b, 32a, 32b,
or 34, when operated in a normal mode causes predetermined control
signals to be transmitted to an electronic device (not shown) to
execute respective operations of the electronic device. As
illustrated later in this specification, however, these regular
command keys may also be preprogrammed by the manufacturer to
perform certain user programming functions when operated in a
special manner (such as being held down for a prolonged period of
time).
FIG. 2 shows a block electrical schematic circuit diagram of the
remote controller shown in FIG. 1. According to the block diagram,
the remote controller 20 comprises a microprocessing unit 44
including a central processing unit (CPU) 46 and a memory 48;
operating keys including a set of regular command keys 28, 30a,
30b, 32a, 32b, or 34 and one or more programmable favorite key 26;
a transmissions circuitry 50 coupled to the microprocessing unit
44; command codes (not shown) stored in the memory 48 for creating
corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the
transmission circuitry 50 to a controlled electronic device (not
shown) to cause the controlled electronic device to perform
specific command functions; and a program (not shown) stored in the
memory 8 to accomplish the programming of the programmable favorite
keys 26.
All operating keys, including regular command keys (28,30a, 30b,
32a, 32b, or 34) and the programmable favorite keys 26, are coupled
to the microprocessing unit 44 through a key matrix encoding means
52. The microprocessing unit 44 itself includes a memory 48, which
is either a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),
or a combination of both. The memory 48 stores the signal codes
used by the microprocessing unit 44 to control the transmission
circuitry 50 such as an infrared photo diode 50a to generate and
transmit command signals. Each signal code corresponds to a
specific command signal. When a signal code is assigned to a
control key, pressing that control key sends the corresponding
command signal to the controlled electronic device. When the remote
controller 20 is set to control a certain electronic device, each
regular control key other than the programmable favorite keys 26
has a fixed corresponding signal code. In this respect, the
programmable favorite keys 26 are different.
In one embodiment, each programmable favorite key 26 is
pre-programmed (or manufacturer programmed) to have the signal code
for a channel shifting command. The favorite key 26, however, does
not just transmit a single channel shifting command when operated
but is programmed to transmit a channel shifting command signal n
times, where variable n is an integral equal or greater than zero
and is subject to change through user programming. Because the
characteristic of the signal is always channel shifting regardless
of the value of variable n, the normal operational function of a
favorite key 26 is always to access a user selected channel rather
than to perform other operations such as VOLUME UP/DOWN. Therefore,
the programmable favorite keys 26 according to the present
invention are different from conventional MACRO keys such as those
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,810 and 5,414,426. The
conventional MACRO keys are not pre-linked to any command code but
must be entirely programmed by assigning to it a sequence of
commands to perform. More importantly, the conventional MACRO keys
are incapable of being programmed to access a user selected
favorite channel unless an absolute channel identifier is supplied.
That is so because even though a conventional MACRO key may be
programmed to transmit the sequence of channel shifting command
signals, there is no provision in the prior art to determine the
actual number of channel shifting command signals needed to switch
the channel to the user selected favorite channel. In contrast,
according to the present invention variable n is determined in user
programming based on relative index positions of the indexed
channels. Various concepts and methods for programming are
involved. An explanation for these concepts and methods
follows.
1. The Concept of Index Numbers of Indexed Channels
Electronic devices usually have a set of indexed channels, i.e.,
active channels. The other channels are not included in this set of
index channels either because they are not available or
intentionally unselected by the user. The indexed channels on an
electronic device are usually lined up sequentially in a chain. The
chain often forms a circle in which the ending channel is connected
to the starting channel. In the chain of indexed channels, each
channel may be given an index number to describe the relative
location of the channel on the chain.
In order to determine the index number of the favorite channel and
subsequently program a favorite key 26 according to the index
number, a base channel must first be chosen. Once the base channel
has been chosen, the index number of an indexed channel may be
readily determined by the number of steps the channel is stepped
from the base channel.
For example, if the set of indexed channels includes channels 2, 4,
5, 9, 11, 15, 24, 27, 35, 42 and 45, and channel 2 is selected as
the base channel, the index number of channel 4 may be designated
as +1 because it is one step up from the base channel. Similarly,
the respective index numbers of channels 5, 9, 11, 15, 24, 27, 35,
42 and 45 are +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, +8, +9 and +10.
Alternatively, because the chain of indexed channels has two
opposite directions, the respective index numbers of channels 45,
42, 35, 27, 24, 15, 11, 9, 5, and 4 may be designated as -1, -2,
-3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9 and -10. Alternatively, the index
channels maybe divided into two groups with the first group being
closer to the base channel in the upward direction and the second
group closer to the base channel in a downward direction; In this
case, the index numbers of the first group may be designated in
terms of+steps while the index numbers of the second group may be
designated in terms of -steps. For example, the first group may
include channels 4, 5, 9, 11, and 15 with their respective index
numbers being +1, +2, +3, +4 and +5, while the second group may
include channels 24, 27, 35, 42 and 45 with their respective index
numbers being -5, -4, -3, -2 and -1. Regardless of which of the
above alternatives is used, the index number of the base channel
chosen (channel 2 in the instant case) is always 0.
When a different base channel is selected, each channel's index
number may be different. For this reason, the index numbers of the
indexed channels are relative channel identifiers because these
numbers are not absolute in a sense that they change as a different
base channel is selected. In addition, even if the base channel is
fixed, there is no determinative relation between the index number
of a channel and the original channel number of that channel. For
example, in the above illustration the index number of channel 9 is
a +3 when the base channel is channel 2. However, if the additional
channel such as channel 7 is added to the present set of indexed
channels, the index number of channel 9 will become +4 even though
the base channel is still channel 2.
Although the index number of the index channel is a relative
channel identifier, it provides accurate information on how to get
to the channel from the base channel. Electronic devices usually
have channel shifting keys such as a CHANNEL UP key 30a or a
CHANNEL DOWN key 30b to shift the channel from one to another. When
a channel shifting key is pressed, the channel transitions from the
present channel to the next one in the corresponding direction. The
index number of a target channel therefore defines both the
transition distance and the transition direction to precisely move
from the base channel to the target channel sought by the user.
In theory, any channel in the set of the indexed channels may be
chosen as the base channel. In the preferred embodiment, however, a
manufacturer presets the base channel because otherwise the user
would be required to select a base channel and to further enter
that user choice on the remote controller 20. Although availability
of a user option may be a desirable feature, one embodiment of the
present invention is aimed at simplicity of use and elegance in
appearance, and hence the user selectable base channel may make the
use of the remote controller 20 unnecessarily complicated.
A drawback of a fixed manufacturer preset base channel is that the
base channel may be an unindexed channel or even an empty channel.
Although in this situation the remote controller 20 according to
the present invention will still work, the user is faced with a
minor annoyance of having to see, albeit briefly, the target
electronic device switching into an undesired channel or an empty
channel each time the channel resetting signal is transmitted upon
pressing a favorite key 26. As a partial solution, there may be
provided several user-selectable base channels and let the user
make a selection by quickly toggling or shifting the key or
switch.
Preferably, such a switch should be located on the back of the
remote controller 20 to avoid cluttering the appearance of the
remote controller 20. The user may ignore such a switch but still
have a fully functional remote controller 20. The switch is
therefore an option available to a user who desires more
adjustability, but does not affect users who ignore it.
2. Determining the Index Numbers of Indexed Channels
A method for determining the index number of a favorite channel
will now be described in details with reference to FIG. 1 and a
part of the flowchart in FIG. 3.
In theory, the user can determine the index number of a favorite
channel by manually counting the steps the channel is moved from
the base channel. This is not only a cumbersome task for many in
itself, but it also would require the user to communicate the
information of the determined index number to the remote controller
20 in order to carry out programming.
According to the present invention, there is provided a program in
the remote controller 20 to intrinsically determine the index
number of a favorite channel as the user shifts channels up and
down to find a favorite channel.
The remote controller 20 has a set of command keys including one or
more channel shifting keys such as a CHANNEL UP key 30a and/or
CHANNEL DOWN key 30b. The remote controller 20 further has a
counting program which counts the number of times the channel
shifting keys have been operated since the counting was started or
since a particular variable related to the counting was reset to
zero. When channel shifting keys of the opposite directions are
involved, the counting program takes the shifting direction into
consideration and modulates the count with either a positive sign
or a negative sign depending on the channel shift direction of the
key operated. At any point of time during counting, the algebraic
sum of the number of operations performed on the channel shifting
keys is a variable n defining an index number of the present
channel relative to the initial channel when the counting started.
If the counting for variable n started with the initial channel
being the predetermined base channel, the variable represents the
index number i of the present channel relative to the base
channel.
The above method for determining the index number of an indexed
channel is further illustrated with reference to a part of the
flowchart in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a complete flowchart to show how an
embodiment of remote controller 20 according to the present
invention works. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, index
numbers of user selected favorite channels are determined in a
special programming mode in step S204 which is further detailed as
steps S102 through S107. When the user switches the remote
controller 20 to the programming mode (S101), the remote controller
20 transmits a command signal to switch the electronic device to
the predetermined base channel (S102). The user then uses a channel
shifting key or channel shifting keys to find a favorite
channel.
Preferably, the channel shifting keys include both a CHANNEL UP key
30a and a CHANNEL DOWN key 30b. The operations of the CHANNEL UP
key 30a and/or the CHANNEL DOWN key 30b will control the electronic
device to go through the indexed (i.e., active) channels but will
skip the unindexed (i.e., inactive) channels. Upon entering the
programming mode for programming a selected favorite key (S202,
S203), the channel is reset to a predetermined base channel (S102).
The counter starts to count from zero the number of times CHANNEL
UP key 30a and/or the CHANNEL DOWN key 30b are operated
(S103-S107). The counter counts ups or downs, or the net of ups and
downs. For example, if the set of indexed channels includes
channels 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 15, 24, 27, 35, 42 and 45, and channel 2
is selected as the base channel, as the user moves from the base
channel 2 to a favorite channel 11 by pressing the CHANNEL UP key
30a four times, the counter will count four times. If the user
makes a mistake and passes channel 11 to go to channel 15 by
pressing the CHANNEL UP key 30a to five times but then comes back
to channel 11 by pressing the CHANNEL DOWN key 30bonce, the counter
will count 5-1=4, still reaching the correct index number of
channel 11. The counter therefore determines the index number of a
favorite channel automatically as the user switches channels to
find the favorite channel. This makes the determination of index
numbers easier and faster. In addition, because the counter can
store the counted number in a memory 48, it can automatically
assign the determined index number to the favorite key 26 being
programmed. There is therefore no need for the user to communicate
such information to the remote controller 20.
Although it is possible that a functional remote controller 20
according to the present invention may include only one channel
shifting key, such as the CHANNEL UP key 30a or the CHANNEL DOWN
key 30b, it is preferred to have both the CHANNEL UP key 30a and
the CHANNEL DOWN key 30b.
Preferably, the counter counts the number of operations on the
CHANNEL UP key 30a and the CHANNEL DOWN key 30b only but not the
operations on other keys. With this arrangement, the user may pause
during his programming for a favorite channel to perform other
operations such as volume down and volume up on the remote
controller 20 without affecting a correct counting. As a related
consideration, the user may stop in the middle of a process of
programming to do other things. It is therefore preferable to have
a memory retention feature to retain the result of counting for a
certain period of time during programming. This period of memory
retention, however, should not be too long, for the user may forget
the programming and come back later to start to operate the remote
controller 20 mistakenly thinking that it is in the normal
operating mode. In this situation, the user may have
unintentionally changed the settings of a favorite key 26 due to a
partial counting. In light of this, it is preferable that the
remote controller 20 is programmed to abandon a programming process
without saving the data after a certain period of idle time. Due to
the above competing factors, a preferable memory retaining time is
about 15 minutes.
3. Programming Favorite Keys 26
Once the index number of a selected favorite channel is determined,
the information can be used to program the favorite key 26.
Preferably, the remote controller 20 has an operating mode and a
programming mode. As described later in the present application,
despite the designations of an operating mode and a programming
mode, certain necessary programming is carried out in the operating
mode rather than in the programming mode. However, certain special
programming is always carried out in the programming mode.
The flowchart in FIG. 3 illustrates a method of programing a remote
controller 20 having a plurality of keys to control a target
electronic device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: 1)
entering the programing mode (S201 and S202); 2) selecting a
favorite key to be programmed (S203); 3) determining the index
number i of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels
(S204, which is further detailed in S102 through S107 as described
previously); 4) assigning the index number i of the favorite
channel to the selected programmable favorite key and exiting the
programing mode (S206).
As shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 20 may have a plurality
of favorite keys 26. Each favorite key 26 can be individually
programmed to give quick access to a users favorite channel. In
this case, the remote controller 20 also has a program to
facilitate the selection of the favorite key 26 needs to be
programmed. This can be accomplished either as the integral part of
the operation to enter programming mode or as the separate
operation executed either before or after entering the programming
mode. For example, each favorite key 26 can be programmed such that
when a favorite key 26 is held down continuously for a
predetermined period of time (e.g., 3 seconds or longer) the remote
controller 20 enters into a programming mode for programming that
particular favorite key 26. The advantage of such an arrangement is
that it is easy and fast. The disadvantage, however, is that it
increases the likelihood of accidentally erasing the program
favorite key 26 functions by the user. Alternatively, a special key
such as the MUTE key is programmed such that when that key is held
down continuously for predetermined period of time (e.g., 3 seconds
or longer) the remote controller 20 and is into the general
programming mode. The user separately chooses which favorite to be
programmed by simply pressing that particular key.
Once the remote controller 20 enters the programming mode for
programming a selected favorite key 26, the user may program the
selected favorite key 26 for a favorite channel that the user
chooses. The program for programming a favorite key 26 is now
described in detail.
It is an important feature of the present invention that favorite
keys 26 are programmed to transmit relative channel shifting
command signals such as CHANNEL UP command or CHANNEL DOWN command,
rather than to transmit absolute channel shifting command signals
such as specific channel numbers. Specifically, each favorite key
26 is preprogrammed to transmit a command signal code in the form
of a string of k signals for CHANNEL UP command or CHANNEL DOWN
command, where the variable k is the transition distance from a
reference channel to the favorite channel. The transition distance
k is determined by the index number i of the favorite channel and
the index number j of the reference channel according to the
following the equation:
For example, if the index number of the favorite channel is +5 and
the index number of the reference channel is +3, the transition
distance from the reference channel to the favorite channel is
5-3=+2. Correspondingly, the associated favorite key 26 is
programmed to transmit a command signal comprising two CHANNEL UP
signals. As a result, when the electronic device is presently on
the reference channel, a single operation on the favorite key 26
shifts the channel from the referenced channel to the favorite
channel.
Completely programming a favorite key 26 therefore generally
requires the knowledge of two variables: the index number i of the
associated favorite channel and the index number j of the reference
channel. Various embodiments of programming methods are discussed
below.
In one embodiment according to the flowchart in FIG. 3, the
reference channel is programmed to be a fixed channel, preferably
the same as the predetermined base channel itself. In this
embodiment, the index number j of the reference channel is a known
constant. For example, in the case of the base channel itself being
used as the reference channel, the index number j of the reference
channel is always zero. This gives k=i-j=i-0=i. Therefore,
programming of a favorite key 26 requires only the knowledge of the
index number i of the associated favorite channel. As a result
programming of a favorite key 26 can be accomplished at the same
time as the index number of the associated favorite key 26 is
determined. This is preferably accomplished in a special
programming mode so that after the programming is finished, the
remote controller 20 is switched to an operating mode and the
programmed information associated with the programmed favorite key
26 may be retained until the user chooses to reprogram the favorite
key 26 later.
Upon leaving the programming mode and entering the normal operating
mode (S207), the favorite key 26 is programmed to transmit a
sequential string of command signals comprising: 1) an initial
command signal which switches the working channel on the controlled
electronic device to the predetermined base channel, and 2) k
subsequent channel shifting command signals to shift the working
channel on the controlled electronic device from the predetermined
based channel to a favorite channel associated with the favorite
key 26. The number k is the same as the index number i of the
favorite channel relative to the predetermined base channel. This
number is retained by the favorite key 26 until the user reprograms
the favorite key 26.
A favorite key 26 SO programmed operates to directly access the
associated favorite channel in the operating mode. In order for the
programmed favorite key 26 to work properly, the electronic device
must be on the reference channel before the series of channel
shifting signals are transmitted. In this embodiment, the favorite
key 26 first transmits a channel resetting command signal before
the transmission of the channel shifting signals (S209). The
channel resetting command signal resets the channel to a
predetermined reference channel, preferably the same as the
predetermined base channel. When the favorite key 26 is pressed,
the channel resetting command signal is first transmitted. Upon
receiving this signal, the electronic device (e.g., a television
set) changes its operating channel to the reference channel.
Subsequently, a series of channel shifting command signals are
transmitted to shift the operating channel to the user favorite
channel (S209).
For example, if the index number of a selected channel is -2, upon
exiting the programming mode, the program outputs the number -2 and
assigns it to variable n associated with the programmed favorite
key 26. Consequently, the favorite key 26 now has an operational
command signal which comprises a channel resetting signal and a
string of two signals for CHANNEL DOWN command. An operation on the
favorite key 26 will shift the operating channel to the user
favorite channel which has an index number of -2.
In another embodiment, however, instead of using a fixed reference
channel (i.e., the initial channel), a floating reference channel
is used. As previously discussed, the transition distance n from
the reference channel to the favorite channel is determined
according to k=i-j, where i is the index number of the favorite
channel and j is the index number of the reference channel. Both
index numbers i and j are determined relative to a predetermined
base channel. Given both the index numbers i and j, the number of
channel shifting command signals need to be transmitted by the
favorite key 26 in order to shift the channel from the reference
channel to the favorite channel may be readily determined. For
example, if the index number of the present channel (reference
channel) is +7 relative to the base channel, and the index number
of the favorite channel the user wants to access next is +6, it can
be readily determined that the associated favorite key 26 should be
programmed to transmit one CHANNEL DOWN command signal in order to
shift from the present channel to the favorite channel.
Preferably, the floating reference channel is whichever channel the
electronic device is on at the time the user presses the favorite
key 26. Choosing a real-time present channel as the reference
channel has the advantage of not requiring the favorite key 26 to
be programmed to transmit a channel resetting signal in addition to
a string of channel shifting signals. For example, if it is
determined that the desired favorite channel is -1 transitions away
from the present channel, the corresponding favorite key 26 needs
to only transmit one CHANNEL DOWN signal without first resetting
the channel to the base channel.
To program a favorite key 26 according to the above embodiment, the
knowledge of the index number of the present channel is necessary.
Without such knowledge, there is no foundation to determine the
number of channel shifting command signals needed to be transmitted
by the favorite key 26. With reference to FIG. 3, this embodiment
is the same as the previous embodiment from steps S201-S207 but
different in the subsequent operating mode. On one hand, a
predetermined base channel is also used for determining index
numbers of both favorite channels and a present channel; the remote
controller 20 also has an operating mode and a programming mode;
the index number i of a selected favorite channel is determined in
the programming mode according to the same method in the previous
embodiment in which a fixed channel such as the predetermined base
channel is used as the reference channel (see S201-S204 in FIG. 3);
and upon exiting the programming mode, the number i is assigned to
the associated favorite key 26 and retained until the user chooses
to reprogram the favorite key 26 later (S205-S207). On the other
hand, in this embodiment the favorite key 26 is only partially
programmed in the programming mode. After exiting the programming
mode, the program of remote controller 20 must further determine
another variable, namely the index number j of the floating
preference channel, to finally determine the number of channel
shifting signals need to be transmitted by the favorite key 26.
A method for determining the index number of a present channel is
now described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4.
The index number j of a present channel is determined in real time
in the operating mode. To study the flowchart in FIG. 4, it is to
be understood that i, j and k designate variables and therefore
using the same letter designation in different context does not
suggest that the same specific value of the variables is involved.
The flowchart in FIG. 4 starts with an initial status S300 in which
the remote controller 20 is in the normal operating mode and the
controlled electronic device in a programmed favorite channel
(hereinafter "the first favorite channel").
In the simplest situation, the user next presses another favorite
key 26 in order to shift the channel from the first favorite
channel to a different favorite channel (hereinafter "the next
favorite channel"). In this situation, the first favorite channel
is the reference channel. Because the information on the index
number of a programmed favorite channel is stored in a memory 48 of
the remote controller 20, the index number j of the reference
channel is available and is the same as the index number of the
first favorite channel (S301). Assuming the next favorite channel
has been previously programmed and has a different index number i,
the effective signal sequence for the favorite key 26 to shift from
the first favorite channel to the next favorite channel is simply
k=i-j channel shifting signals (S305). Note that the values of both
i and j are internally available and does not require input by the
user. With such information available, the remote controller 20 can
to determine the effective signal sequence of a favorite key 26 in
real time when the favored key is pressed.
In a slightly more complicated scenario, the user, starting from
the first favorite channel, subsequently shifts channels using the
channel shifted keys to reach a present channel immediately before
the user presses another favorite key 26 to access the next
favorite channel. In this situation, the present channel (reference
channel) may or may not be a favorite channel and its index number
j is not directly available in the memory 48. It is however simple
to calculate that index number j according to a method described
next still with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4.
The program in the remote controller 20 remembers the index number
i of the last favorite channel accessed by operating the associated
favorite key 26 and temporarily assigns that value to the index
number j of the reference channel (S301). The counter in the remote
controller 20 works in the operating mode in order to determine the
final value of j (S303, S304). Specifically, if the user
subsequently shifted channels using the channel shifting keys, the
program counts the number of times and the directions channel
shifting keys were operated. Combining this information with the
index number of the last favorite channel accessed, the program
determines in real time the index number j of the present channel.
For example, if the last favorite channel accessed by the user has
an index number of +2, the user has since shifted channel four
times by pressing CHANNEL UP key 30a three times and CHANNEL DOWN
key 30b once, the index number of the present channel is determined
as follows: (+2)+(+3)+(-1)=+4. This determination is performed in a
normal operating mode rather than in a special programming mode
such as one in which favorite keys 26 are programmed.
With the index number j of the reference channel determined, as the
user next presses a favorite key which has the associated index
number i, the number of channel shifting command signals to be
transmitted is determined by k=i-j. See steps S302 and S305.
It is important to note that in the above embodiment, although the
counter works both in the programming mode and the operational
mode, there is an essential difference in the manner the counter
works in these two different modes. In the former, it counts for a
variable n that is to be assigned to a favorite key 26 and
semi-permanently remains associated with the favorite key 26 until
the user reprograms that key, while in the latter the counter
counts a transient number which is used for determining a variable
k for the signal pattern of the favorite key 26 presently being
operated. The variable k itself is also a transient number. After
the command signals are transmitted, the number does not remain
associated with the favorite key 26, but will be determined anew
each time when a favorite key is operated in the operating
mode.
A relative disadvantage of the above embodiment is that if the user
has changed the channel using keys other than the channel shifted
keys or favorite keys 26 (for example, by entering a specific
channel number), the program may determine an incorrect index
number of the present channel. However, in the embodiment in which
the remote controller 20 does not have a regular numeric key and
the channel can be shifted or changed only by the operating a
channel shifting key 30a or 30b, or a favorite key 26, the above
problem is unlikely to occur.
In yet another embodiment, the combination of a fixed reference
channel and a floating reference channel is used. Specifically, the
reference channel is selected from either the predetermined base
channel or the present channel depending on the transition distance
from these two channels to the favorite channel. The method can be
illustrated in the following example. Suppose the index number of
the present channel is +7 relative to the base channel, and the
index number of the favorite channel the user wants to access next
is +6 relative to the base channel. In this case, if the base
channel is selected as the reference channel, the favorite key 26
associated with the above average channel will need to be
programmed to transmit a channel resetting signals first and six
CHANNEL UP signals next. By contrast, if the present channel is
selected as the reference channel, the favorite key 26 will only
need to be programmed to transmit one CHANNEL DOWN command signal.
This simplifies the signal sequence of the favorite keys 26. An
opposite situation may occur in which using that base channel as
the reference channel result in a sequence of command signals for
the favorite key 26. The remote controller 20 can be programmed to
optimize a favorite key 26 to suit for an instant need each time
the favorite key 26 is operated.
In all above-described embodiments, the use of relative channel
shifting command signals such as CHANNEL UP command or CHANNEL DOWN
command makes it possible to program favorite keys 26 without the
user's knowledge of absolute channel identifying information such
as specific channel numbers and the entrance of such information.
Only the index number of favorite channels are required.
A favorite key programmed as above is set to send a sequence of
channel shifting signals to the controlled electronic device. The
operation-inter-station time (IST), the time between sending a
channel shifting signal and sending a subsequent channel shifting
signal should be optimized according to how fast the electronic
device may be able to change channels. An IST that is too long
makes operations too slow while an IST that is too short may not
give sufficient time for the controlled electronic device to
respond. For household television sets, IST is preferably 8/10 of a
second. Because the response time may vary among television sets,
it may be desirable to be able to adjust the IST on the remote
controller. For example, the remote controller may be adapted to
adjust IST as follows: 1) Press a favorite key on which the user
wishes to change IST; 2) Press and hold MUTE key for 3 seconds; 3)
Press VOLUME UP key or VOLUME DOWN key to increase or decrease IST
respectively. Each time when the VOLUME UP key or VOLUME DOWN key
is pressed briefly, IST is adjusted by a certain amount of time,
for example, 1/10 of the second.
Other Features
In one embodiment, the remote controller 20 is a universal remote
controller 20 programmable to control a plurality of electronic
devices. When programmed to control a particular target electronic
device, each command key operates to transmit command signals to
operate an associated function on the target electronic device. The
favorite keys 26 are subsequently programmed by the user to access
the favorite channels on the target electronic device.
Various types of universal remote controlling methods existing in
the prior art may be used. These methods, such as preset signal
structure type, learning type, or a combination of these two types,
are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,645 (Kamon et al.),
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,654,714 and 5,745,068 (Takahashi et al.), and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,959,751 (Darbee et al.). The above patents are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
Although the favorite keys 26 and the method of programming the
favorite keys 26 may be incorporated on a full-featured remote
controller 20 which has a comprehensive set of command keys
including in numeric key mode, the present invention is best
suitable for a remote controller 20 which aims at simplicity in
operation and elegance in design. Preferably, the set of command
keys includes a CHANNEL UP key 30a and a CHANNEL DOWN key 30b, and
also includes essential operational keys such as a POWER ON/OFF
key, a VOLUME UP/DOWN key 32a and b, and a MUTE key 34, but does
not include many other keys such as numeric keys and keys for
advanced and complex functions.
There may also be a special set key for entering the programming
mode and/or exiting the programming. Preferably, however, the set
command for entering a function may be executed by continuously
holding down an operating key, such as the MUTE key 34, for a
predetermined period of time (e.g. 3 seconds or longer). The same
operating key may be programmed to exit the programming mode when
continuously held down for a predetermined period of time (e.g. 3
seconds or longer). Although different regular keys may be used in
the manner described above for entering and exiting the programming
mode, preferably the same key such as the MUTE key 34 is used for
both entering and exiting the programming mode. Alternatively,
while in the programming mode, the exiting function may be carried
out by pressing in a normal manner a command key whose normal
function is unlikely to be used while in the programming mode. This
arrangement, however, makes it impossible to retain the normal
function of that operating key while the remote controller 20 is in
the programming mode.
Preferably, the exiting command signal also operates to store the
result of the last programming session and locks in the programed
favorite channel on the associated favorite key 26. This is
accomplished by assigning the index number to the associated
favorite key at the same time as the remote controller exits the
programming mode (S206).
In addition, due to the interactivity of the programming according
to the present invention, the electronic device must be turned on
during programming. Normally, the user would have already turned
the electronic device on before entering programming mode. If the
user for some reason has not done that, there may be two options in
designing the remote controller 20. In one embodiment, the remote
controller 20 will do nothing to the controlled electronic device
when the user attempts to enter the programming mode if the target
electronic device is not already turned on. In another embodiment,
the remote controller 20 can be programmed to automatically turn
the electronic device on when the operations for entering the
programming mode is performed. However, because many electronic
devices use toggle type switches for power on and off, the above
latter embodiment may cause problems by switching off the
electronic device which is already on. The first embodiment is
therefore preferred.
Due to use of relative channel shifting commands such as the
CHANNEL UP command and CHANNEL DOWN command, each time when the
user uses a favorite key 26 to access the associated favorite
channel, instead of directly activating the favorite channel, the
electronic device first switches to the base channel and then
transitions to the target favorite channel, one channel at a time.
Consequently, the remote controller 20 according to the present
invention is not suitable where the target electronic device has a
large number of indexed channels and the user tends to surf the
index channels with a wide range. On the other hand, sophisticated
"channel surfers" are likely to be attracted to the existing
full-featured universal remote controller 20 rather than a type
according to the present invention which aims at simplicity of use
and elegance in appearance. Furthermore, in the case of a
television set, it is found that less than a second is required
between pulses to reliably switch between channels. The remote
controller 20 according to the present invention therefore has
usability as long as the total number of indexed channels is not
excessively large.
A related problem is that because a chain of indexed channels has
two directions, each index to channel has two conjugated index
numbers, one counted from the upward direction and the other from
the downward direction. For example, if the total number of indexed
channels is ten, a channel that is farthest from the base channel
in the upward direction will have an index number of nine, which
means that it will take nine pulses (CHANNEL UP signal) to shift
from the base channel to this target channel when its associated
favorite key 26 is pressed. That channel, however, is also the
closest channel to the base channel in the downward direction and
will have an index number of -1 if counted in that direction,
requiring only one pulse (CHANNEL DOWN signal). Apparently, in this
case it is preferable to program the favorite key 26 using the
index number -1 instead of +9. Which of the above two possible ways
is used to program the favorite key 26 will depend on how the user
actually finds the favorite channel during programming of the
favorite key 26. For example, if the user shifts the channel
upward, the counter will eventually account a +9 when the favorite
channel is reached and consequently program the favorite key 26 to
transmit a series of nine channel up signals. If the user shifts
the channel downward, the counter will count only a -1, resulting
in a much simpler command signal for the favorite key 26
programmed. Other channels located far away from the base channel
have a similar problem but to a lesser degree. The user, therefore,
is advised to have a rough idea of where a favorite channel is
located in the chain of indexed channels and choose the shorter cut
to reach the channel to be programmed during programming. Such
knowledge not only makes the programming itself faster but more
importantly creates a more efficient command signal for the
favorite key 26 programmed. Alternatively, there may be a provision
of entering the total number of channels on the remote controller
20 by the user so that the program stored in the memory 48 of the
remote controller 20 may conduct an automatic determination of
which way to go when programming a favorite key 26, regardless of
how the user programs the favorite key 26. For example, if there
are nine index channels in total, and the counter counted a +7
during programming, knowing that there are nine channels in total,
the program may automatically assign a -2 instead of +7 to the
favorite key 26 programmed. The downside of such a provision is
that it will require at least one more input key on the remote
controller 20 to facilitate an entrance of the total number of
indexed channels. It also makes the operation of the remote
controller 20 more complicated. In any event, lacking or not using
such a feature will not affect the basic functionality of the
remote controller 20. The feature therefore, if provided, will be
an option for users who desire more adjustability without affecting
the usability by other users.
Although, the remote controller 20 according to the present
invention has mainly been described in relation favorite keys 26
that are conveniently programmed to quickly access favorite
channels, it should be understood that in the normal operating mode
CHANNEL UP and CHANNEL DOWN keys may be used in a regular manner to
access any indexed channels.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize
that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from
the spirt and scope of the invention. For example, although the
remote controller 20 according to the present invention has mainly
been described in relation to favorite channels in a television
set, favorite channels or stations on a stereo, radio or other
electronic equipment are equally applicable in accordance with the
present invention. Consequently, references herein to channels
should be understood to mean television channels as well as stereo
or radio stations.
* * * * *
References